Transport medium selection to optimize device operation

Abstract

Selective transport medium selection is provided. A first device and a second device exchange descriptions. The descriptions identify available services on each device and all available transport mediums for each service. At least one of the available services is chosen and one of the available transport mediums is selected to exchange data between the first device and the second device.

1 . A method of transport medium selection, the method comprising:
 providing a first device and a second device;   exchanging device descriptions between the first device and the second device, wherein each device description identifies available services and all available transport mediums for each service;   choosing at least one of the available services to exchange data between the first device and the second device; and   selecting one of the available transport mediums to exchange data between the first device and the second device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of exchanging device descriptions comprises:
 sending a first device description from the first device to the second device that identifies all services that are available on the first device; and   sending a second device description from the second device to the first device that identifies all services that are available on the second device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of sending the first device description comprises:
 identifying all transport mediums that are available for use with each service on the first device; and   identifying all transport mediums that are available for use with each service on the second device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a device description for each device by either designating all transport mediums present on device as available for use with each service on the device or designating only transport mediums present on the device that meet predetermined criteria as available for use with each service on the device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of creating device descriptions comprises:
 designating only transport mediums present on the device that meet predetermined criteria as available for use with each service on the device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising
 selecting at least one parameter related to at least one of power consumption, throughput, and quality of service; and   setting the predetermined criteria through employment of the at least one parameter   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of creating the device description for each device comprises:
 creating an initial description for each device in accordance with the Universal Plug and Play specification; and   adding a descriptor to each initial description that identifies all available transport mediums for each service identified in the initial description.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of choosing at least one of the available services comprises:
 choosing a service on the first device; and   choosing a service on the second device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of selecting one of the available transport mediums comprises:
 determining that a plurality of transport mediums available for the service chosen on the first device match a plurality of transport mediums available for the service chosen on the second device; and   employing predetermined criteria to select one of the plurality of available transport mediums.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of employing predetermined criteria comprises:
 setting the predetermined criteria to select at least one of: a first available matching transport medium of the plurality of available transport mediums, a transport medium that will minimize power consumption relative to the other transport mediums, a transport medium that will maximize throughput of data exchanged between the first device and the second device, and a transport medium that will maximize quality of service between the first device and the second device.   
     
     
         11 . A method of identifying transport capabilities to a network, the method comprising:
 initiating communication with at least one device on the network;   broadcasting a device description to the at least one device;   wherein the device description includes at least one service available to the network and all transport mediums available for use with the at least one service.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of broadcasting the device description comprises:
 broadcasting the device description such that it includes a plurality of services that are available to the at least one device and a list of transport mediums available for use with each of the plurality of services.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving a device description from the at least one device on the network, wherein the received device description includes at least one service available from the at least one device and all transport mediums available for use with the at least one service.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of receiving the device description comprises:
 receiving a plurality of services available from the at least one device and all transport mediums available for use with each of the services.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 choosing a service to exchange data with the at least one device;   determining predetermined criteria to select one of the available transport mediums; and   selecting one of the transport mediums based on the predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         16 . A method of selecting a protocol for use in exchanging data with a device on a network, the method comprising:
 receiving a device description from the device, the device description including at least one service that can be used to exchange data with the device, and for each service included in the device description, all available transport mediums for use with the service; and   choosing a service to exchange data with the second device, and selecting an available transport medium for use with service.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of selecting an available transport medium comprises:
 receiving input from a user; and   selecting the transport medium in accordance with the user input.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of selecting an available transport medium comprises:
 setting predetermined criteria for selecting a transport medium; and   employing the predetermined criteria to select the transport medium.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of setting the predetermined criteria comprises:
 selecting at least one parameter related to at least one of power consumption, throughput, and quality of service; and   setting the predetermined criteria through employment of the at least one parameter.   
     
     
         20 . A wireless device on a network, comprising:
 a processor;   a transceiver; and   a memory component that includes a description of the device, the description including at least one service that is available for use by other devices on the network, and for each service, a list of all transport mediums that are available for use with the service.   
     
     
         21 . An article, comprising:
 a computer-readable signal-bearing medium;   logic in the medium to provide a description of a device on a network, wherein the description includes each service available to other devices on the network and available transport mediums for use with each service.